The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-08-12
SURPRISE AND SORROW.
PALESTINE Tx, July %.

friend Gov. Lubbock in opposition
to the adoption Of the proposed
amendment to our State constitution
; to prohibit the manufacture, sale
and exchange Of intoxicating liquors
| except for mechanical, medical,
scientific and sacrameDtal purposes
Texas has never been so profoundly
stirred up on 4 question before with
in my memory. Tie State Demo-
cratic convention of last year held
the question OF ten perance, of OPP
position to the liquor traffic, to be
non-parhsan. Our Democratic Gov
ernor recommended to the asst legis-
lature the submission Of this ques-
ton to the vote Of the people. Our
Legislature, which on JOINT ballot
/ had but five Republicans IN it, did
| submit the question to the people
/ for decision Oh the 9Th Of August
! proxImo, by vote OF more than
two thirds Of each house. 1t was
submitted rs Il non~plrtisan question
to be voted on when no other ques-
ton was before the people. This
measure Is, l understand, sustained
| by majority OF the abIest, best and
most trusted Democrats OF the
State, sucn as ex-senator MaxeY,
Dir. CulOeIson, MIR. Lanham and
Judge Hare, Democratic member
elect to Congress, and COL. Miller. Il
DENT cratic member Uf the last Cons
grs@s. 1t IS sustained by two~t thirds
OF tie newspapers of Texas, by not
less than nIneteen~tWentleth of the
800 or 400 preachers OF today; by
probably ninety lime III every hun
bred OF the women of the State, and
II viii, III my opinion, be voted Tor
Dy more than 100, 0UU white Demo-
Gratis Of this State,
l have been IN three counties in
large assemblies since your letter
was publ sled, and IRON what l have
seen and heard | am snre that tens
Of thousands of your truest and best
friends are grieved and panied by
your letter. We believe we could
carry the State against the COM
| bIned influence and efforts of the
manufacturers Of WHISKY and beer,
the liquor dealers associations o.
St. Louis, Chicago, Louisville, Gin
cinnati, New Y ork, Philadelphia,
and elsewhere, and against the use
Of the vast sums OF money they
have sent to Texas to employ and
pay speakers, suborn the newspa-
pers, and corrupt the ballot and de-
Uauch the people. We believed we
could carry 1t against this saloon
keepers, professional politicians and
Il NUMBER Of good men like our
friend Gov. Lubbock, but the power
| Of your great Came Is now being
paraded against the ProhihItionist
lot only, out some good men who
like yourself, think prohibition more
uangerO US than the liquor traffic
ami drunkenness with ali the evils,
poverty, shame, sorrow and ctIme
that follow in thtIr tram. Your let
ter IS being read and applauded by
every ca con keeper and dram drink
er IN Texas today, and 1t Will cost
cause which many Of US deem Ot
/
anus OF yoles, and we lear may de-
Leaf the Amendment ami give The
endorsement ot the people to the Ilq~
uor traffic with the grIels, sorrows
and crimes which 90 with 1t.
You object to this amendment
/ because the world is governed too
much. Our laws prohibit the car
| rying of pistols, bowie knives and
brass knuckles, and punish those
carrying them by fine and Imprison-
ment. Our laws prohibit and pro-
vide for the punishment Of many
other things which are injurious t.
. society, and which restrain The per-
sonal liberty Of the citizen. Iou ad-
mt that the Incorporate use OF IIq-
uor is the root OF many social dis
orders. No one can truthfully deny
the baneful effects of the liquor traE-
| lie. But you think With many
others that to prohibit it will be an
&bridgement Of personal liberty.
This is admitted. Personal Iiberfy
was abridged when God forbade
2 our progenlIOrs 10 sat of the fruit
Of the tree OF life. The deca los ne
in the Holy Scriptures abrid2es
personal liberty in nearly eyery
commandment. The laws of the
United States ana OF our several
States are III a large measure made
Of provisions for tAe abridgement OF
personal liberty. They 90 this in.
order to give protection to the per-
j sons, the re Jut1t tons, the lives, the
property OF the people-to give peace
and prosperity 10 society. They
do It because government and civil
society cannot exist without the
abridgement of personal liberty
They do 1t for the good of society
and the protection OF Its members
Is the liquor rar1ic an evil? Few
have the hardiAOUu to deny that II
IS. Most OF The Anti Prohibition
orators OF this STATE admit that it is
Then, why not prohibit, except fol
the useful purposes mentioned in
the amendment, as one prohibits
gambling and the carrying OF weap,
5 ons? You justly refer to drunkard,
t rs degraded criminals" Why no
do all we lawfully may to prevent
drunkenness and the crimes it gives
rise tor
The great charter of English
liberty, the portions Of the coLstitu,
ton of the United States which
operates as DiI of rights, the bi |,
OF rights OF the several States O.
the Union may be aualyzed in al
Z their aspects and it Will not, cannot
= be found that they, anywhere, un.
der any circL instances, protect per
, sonal liberty where It's exercise Is &
crime or ofends injuriously the utter